WINGTIP STRIKE DURING TAXI INTO GATE.

Narrative

APCHING THE STOP POINT AT GATE AT IAH; A BUMP WAS FELT. THE ACFT WAS STOPPED EVEN THOUGH THE GUIDE MAN CONTINUED TO MARSHAL THE ACFT FORWARD. THE JETWAY WAS BROUGHT TO THE ACFT AND THE CREW WAS THEN ADVISED OF THE L WINGTIP STRIKING A CATERING TRUCK. THE CATERING TRUCK WAS OBSERVED WHEN THE TURN INTO THE GATE AREA WAS INITIATED; HOWEVER; IT APPEARED WELL CLR OF THE CLR AREA. THE ACFT FOLLOWED THE GUIDEMAN'S DIRECTIONS AND TRACKED THE J LINE TO THE GATE. THE WINGTIP STRIKE OCCURRED APPROX 2-3 FT FROM WHERE THE ACFT WOULD HAVE NORMALLY BEEN STOPPED. THE COCKPIT WAS PAST THE JETWAY AND THE L WING AREA WAS BLOCKED FROM VIEW BY THE JETWAY. THE GUIDEMAN'S SIGNALS WERE BEING FOLLOWED EXACTLY AS THE ACFT WAS BEING SLOWED FOR A STOP AT THE GATE AND THE SPD WAS 1 OR 2 KTS AT THE TIME OF THE STRIKE. THE ACFT WAS ON THE J LINE AT THE TIME OF THE STRIKE AND ALL OPS SEEMED NORMAL AS THE GUIDEMAN WAS CONTINUING TO MOTION STRAIGHT AHEAD. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO PERSONNEL AND DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO 1 PANEL ON THE L WINGTIP. I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY BETTER TRAINING OF THE GND PERSONNEL AND AN ADEQUATE NUMBER TO DO THE JOB WITHOUT HAVING TO RUSH AT TOO FAST A PACE. THEY NEED TO BE MADE AWARE THAT AT CERTAIN TIMES THE WINGS ARE BLOCKED FROM OUR VIEW AND WE ARE TOTALLY RELIANT ON THEIR GUIDANCE. EQUIP SUCH AS TRUCKS SHOULD NOT BE PARKED IN THE VICINITY OF ACFT MOVEMENT. FINALLY; THE CLR AREAS AROUND GATES SHOULD BE MARKED CLRLY AND MAINTAINED TO REMAIN VISIBLE DURING ALL OPS; INCLUDING BEING WELL LIGHTED AT NIGHT.